FORENSIC
TECHNOLOGY
N E W S
© 2004 Forensic Technology WAI Inc. Forensic Technology Inc. One Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 310, Washington, DC 20001 USA
The Premier News Magazine for Forensic Technology
New South Wales
Sets New Standard
for Ballistics in Sydney
Volume II Issue 3
NEWS HIGHLIGHT
NEWS HIGHLIGHT
INTERNATIONAL SCENE
Canadian Documentary
Documents ‘Ballistic Truth’
BULLETTRAX -3D Lends a Hand
in the Autopsy of a Murder
South Africa Raises Ballistics
Testing Capacity
TM
Winter 2005
FORENSIC
TECHNOLOGY
FORENSIC
TECHNOLOGY
N E W S
FORENSIC
Solutions for a Safer Society.
MANAGING EDITOR
EDITORIAL
Tony Gagliardi,
[email protected]
4
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
TECHNOLOGY
5
NEWS HIGHLIGHT
6
NEWS
8
NEWS FEATURE
From the ‘D’ Quadrant:
GOING GLOBAL : A New Level of
Information Sharing to Solve Crime
Patty Xenos,
[email protected]
NEWS HIGHLIGHT
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Penny D’Alton,
[email protected]
5
Canadian Documentary
Documents ‘Ballistic Truth’
CONTRIBUTORS
Pete Gagliardi
Nicola Gurwith
Wayne Hoffman
Stéphane Marcotte
Joanne McLaughlin
Irma Ventor
Isadora Vuk
Martin Roy
Robert Walsh
NEWS
6
BULLETTRAXTM-3D Lends a Hand in
the Autopsy of a Murder
7
Hearing the Voice of the Customer
NEWS FEATURE
8
New South Wales Sets New
Standards for Ballistics in Sydney
FORENSIC
TopStory
Solutions for a Safer
Society: Forensic
Technology Changes
its Image.
NewsStory
Kentucky Firearms
Expert
wins 2004 Calvin H.
Goddard Award.
SpecialEditorial
New Partnership Forge
in India.
InternationalScene
Rome hosts IFTS.
October 2004
INTERNATIONAL SCENE
10
South Africa Raises Ballistics
Testing Capacity
12
Illegal Trafficking of Small Arms – A
Worldwide Concern
issue 2
N E W S
Cover: Designed by Penny D’Altonvolume
II,
TECHNOLOGY
10
INTERNATIONAL SCENE
PRETORIA
S O U T H
A F R I C A
DURBAN
13 POINTS ON PRODUCT
EVENTS
15
Technology Preview Opens to
Warm Reception
Forensic Technology is an
ISO 9001/2000 Certified Company.
2
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Forensic Technology News – Winter 2005
MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
I would like to take this opportunity to personally commend the efforts
of the men and women using our technology solutions in the global fight
against violent crime. Throughout this issue, you will read stories highlighting the successes of public safety agencies around the world using
innovative technologies to keep one step ahead of those who wish to harm
our communities. I specifically would like to commend the achievements
of Australia's New South Wales Police regarding their success using IBIS
and compliment the hard work and diligence displayed by the members
of the South African Police Service for their increased proficiency using
ballistic imaging technology.
When reading our winter 2005 issue of Forensic Technology News, you will
notice the increased attention paid to the international community. We
have worked very hard over the past few months compiling research and
working with the international community to bring our audience and
clients a more global perspective on the benefits of outfitting public safety
agencies with field proven, leading-edge technology solutions.
We look forward to the further successes of all of our clients and hope to
include more articles from various sites around the world in future issues.
Thus, we welcome you to submit articles or story ideas relating to forensics
and public safety to our publication. We are always looking to share the
new successes and insights of our clients with others around the world.
Every new technology, every HIT made, every article written highlighting
your successes, is a thorn in side of even the most hardened criminal.
I hope you all enjoy this issue.
To submit articles, story ideas, or
success stories to Forensic Technology
News, please email Patty Xenos at
[email protected] or Tony
Gagliardi at [email protected].
Alternatively, you can call 1-888984-4247 (toll free N. America) or
+1 514-489-4247 (international).
Robert A. Walsh, president & CEO
Forensic Technology
FORENSIC
TECHNOLOGY
D
From the
By Pete Gagliardi
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Quadrant
Going Global: A New Level of Information Sharing to Solve Crime
ver the past decade, improved information sharing
within a law enforcement organization and across
multiple jurisdictions has helped police to better
pursue criminals operating on a national level. Today, just
as business continues to expand globally, so does crime and
terrorism. There is a growing need to improve law enforcement's ability to pursue criminals across international
boundaries.
O
As you know, IBISTM technology is currently being utilized
by federal, state and local police agencies around the world
to link critical information neccesary for solving firearm-related crime. A Harvard University study1 recently published in
the Journal of Forensic Sciences reported that IBIS technology
allowed, with little effort, the user to systematically compare
recovered crime-gun evidence against its entire inventory
of evidence. IBIS technology was also shown to help police
make links across crime scenes and jurisdictions that would
not have been possible before.
These critical benefits are beginning to be recognized
throughout the world by police organizations that have
a need to address cross-border violent crime as well. As
a result, we are beginning to see a paradigm shift toward
the improved sharing of crime-related ballistics information
across international boundaries.
Forensic Technology's IBIS technology can be configured
to serve as a crime-fighting solution that is particularly
well suited to this information-sharing task. Some alliances
already have been formed that allow participating countries
to take advantage of each others' inventories or "pools"
of ballistic evidence in order to maximize their crimesolving potential.
As we see signs of a fast-growing movement to expand
existing alliances and form new ones, we want you to
know that Forensic Technology is prepared to respond.
We are ready to assist our clients with consultation to
address questions and concerns, and to provide the technology and services that are needed to advance "forensic
ballistics" to this new level of global information-sharing
and, most importantly, to sustain it.
WORLD IBIS INSTALLATIONS
REGIONS WITH IBIS
IBIS HUB
REGIONS WITHOUT IBIS
IBIS World Installations
1. Linking Crime Guns: The Impact of Ballistics Imaging Technology on the Productivity of the Boston Police Department's Ballistics Unit, Journal of Forensic Sciences, July 2004, Vol. 49, No. 4.
Anthony Braga, Ph.D and Glenn L. Pierce, Ph.D.
4
www.forensictechnologyinc.com
Forensic Technology News – Winter 2005
FORENSIC
TECHNOLOGY
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS
Canadian Documentary Documents 'Ballistic Truth'
ith the increasing popularity of today’s law
enforcement dramas like CSI and Law & Order,
the science of forensics has undoubtedly captured the public's fascination with criminal investigation.
However, as with most television dramas portraying reallife scenarios, show creators take a justifiable poetic license
to make the program more engaging for the audiences.
W
On October 23, at 7:00 p.m., a Canadian television broadcaster, Global Television, aired an hour-long documentary
examining the hard facts and science behind the entertaining
law enforcement and forensic television dramas, focusing
specifically on ballistics identification technology.
The documentary entitled Bullet Proof: The Ballistic Truth
Behind Crime, was an hour-long segment chronicling the
history of Forensic Technology and the groundbreaking
IBISTM technology that has significantly altered that way in
which violent firearm-related crimes are investigated and
solved. Bullet Proof explored the road map that lead to the
creation of the IBIS and analyzed the impact IBIS has had
on forensic sciences and its future within the law enforcement and criminal justice community.
Filming began in Forensic Technology's Montreal office on
July 26th. Forensic Technology employees played a large role
in preparing numerous technology products for their television debuts. Among the staff that was interviewed by BBR
Productions, the company responsible for producing the
by Tony Gagliardi
documentary, were Robert Walsh, president and CEO, Pete
Gagliardi, vice president of marketing, Jim Lightfoot, vice
president of government affairs, product managers Serge
Labrecque, Stepane Marcotte and Mike McLean, and Patty
Xenos, public information manager.
In addition to the Forensic Technology interviews were conversations with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (ATF), the Laboratoire de Sciences Judicaires et de
Médecine Légale, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD),
the Boston Police Department, the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police (RCMP) and Dr. Kathy Reichs, international best-selling
author and forensic anthropologist. Members of the LAPD,
Boston Police Department and Canada's own RCMP discussed
the strengths of the IBIS technology and the future steps that
will need to be taken in order to facilitate further improvements across the board.
Bullet Proof also featured a number of high-profile criminal
cases that would have been difficult (or next to impossible)
to solve without the help of the IBIS. These cases were documented as 'success stories' regarding how the system has
positively impacted forensic investigation.
The documentary concluded by examining the future
of ballistics identification technology as it relates to the
improvement of law enforcement and the advent of newer
products that will make the IBIS technology more accessible
to all levels of law enforcement, namely BRASSTRAXTM and
BULLETTRAXTM-3D.
Bullet Proof: The Ballistic Truth Behind Crime aired across
Canada with plans to broadcast in the United States and
internationally in the future.
For more information regarding Bullet Proof, please contact
Patty Xenos at [email protected] or by dialing
1-888-984-4247.
Product Manager, Stéphane Marcotte, Unit Manager Research & Tech. Evaluation, Serge Labrecque.
www.forensictechnologyinc.com
Forensic Technology News – Winter 2005
5
FORENSIC
TECHNOLOGY
N E W S
BULLETTRAX-3DTM Lends a Hand in the Autopsy of a Murder by Patty Xenos
orensic Technology has
partnered with the Montréal
Science Centre to develop an
interactive ballistics game built around
the company's latest ballistic technology
achievement, BULLETTRAX-3D. The
game is part of a larger exhibit entitled
Autopsy of a Murder that opened at the
Montréal Science Centre on October
16th, 2004.
F
This cutting-edge technology helps
introduce visitors to the science of ballistics identification. Autopsy of a Murder
presents the equipment that is actually
used by real criminal investigators and
forensic scientists, giving visitors the
most complete and realistic experience
possible. In addition, the principles and
procedures referred to are the same as
those used in real-life legal sciences and
forensic medicine laboratories. Visitors
contemporary and historical-and
excerpts from archival documents.
Audio, video, multimedia games and
computer programs are all integral
parts of this interactive exhibit.
Robert Walsh, president of Forensic
Technology, said, "We are proud to
participate in this instructive and
informative event that provides
the public with the rare opportunity
to preview the technology available
to law enforcement to help them in
their battle against violent crime."
Autopsy of a Murder was developed in
collaboration with science experts from
governmental and private laboratories.
The visitors to the exhibit get to become
the investigators responsible for solving
a murder. Guests are granted access to
the crime scene, the autopsy room, the
archive room, and various laboratories
such as ballistics, genetics, voice analysis, fiber analysis and chemistry-toxicology. During the investigation, visitors
will also be able to see and hear the
statements of suspects and witnesses.
Autopsy of a Murder sends a message; the
science of Criminalistics is now essential
to proving the guilt of suspects. The
exhibit was designed as educational
entertainment for the entire family,
especially for late elementary and early
high school students (10–14 years-old).
Ms. Claude Benoit, president and CEO
of the Old Port of Montréal Corporation,
said, "We are pleased that the ballistics
game we have developed will help teach
children about the science behind criminal investigations."
The exhibit will later be featured at the
Musée de la civilization in Quebec City
and the Canada Science and Technology
Museum in Ottawa.
The Montréal Science Centre is one
of Canada's finest cultural institutions
dedicated to developing high-quality
educational programs that contribute
to the heightened interest among
young people in science and technology
careers. Autopsy of a Murder will be on
display until March 2005.
Using the BULLETTRAX-3D interactive
software, visitors can examine the spent
bullets from a potential crime gun. The
guests can then verify their hypotheses
in the life-like recreations of the forensic laboratories. Based on their deductions, the visitors then choose a suspect,
along with three pieces of incriminating
evidence, and check the validity of their
presumptions. If they successfully find
the murderer, the guilty party will confess on videotape.
Ballistics
Labview
station in
the Autopsy
Murder exhibit.
may
also
over
fiftyofobjects-both
6
www.forensictechnologyinc.com
Photo courtesy of Old Port of Montréal Corporation Inc.
From left to right: Claude Benoit, president and CEO of the
Old Port of Montréal Corporation.
Representing Forensic Technology: René Belanger and
Patty Xenos.
Mr. Bernard Lamarre, president of the École Polytechnique
de Montréal, president of the Montreal Museum of Fine
Arts, and president de la Société du Vieux Port de Montréal.
Forensic Technology News – Winter 2005
FORENSIC
TECHNOLOGY
N E W S
F E A T U R E
New South Wales Sets New
Standards for Ballistics in
Sydney
By Wayne Hoffman, Det. Inspector and
Manager of the Forensic Ballistics Unit,
New South Wales Police, Sydney, Australia
he New South Wales (NSW)
slogan is "The First State,"
and coincidentally, we were the
first Australian state to implement
IBIS technology in June 2000. With
a population of more than six million,
citizens enjoy a great lifestyle, climate,
culture and community living. In our
Ballistic Section,
a systematic, proOur goal was
active approach
to evaluate has been applied
BRASSTRAX... in employing
Our division IBIS technology
was extremely to reduce and
satisfied with prevent firearmthe test results... related crime
other law inside and outenforcement side our borders.
T
agencies in
Australia have
expressed interest in the use of
this technology.
Using IBIS technology, we were
able to achieve
the first-ever
national hit in
Australia, linking
a crime committed in NSW to a firearm recovered in
another state. IBIS technology has also
played an instrumental role in assisting
the Australian Federal Police (AFP)
with shooting crimes in East Timor.
Our Forensic Ballistic Investigation
Section has been operating since 1934
and is one of the oldest in the worlddivided into a Forensic Ballistics Unit
8
123 COLD HITS CELEBRATED!
The energy levels in our Ballistic Section have been high, as we are preparing
for the visit of the NSW Premier, Bob Carr, the NSW Police Commissioner,
Ken Moroney, and NSW Police Minister, John Watkins, to help us celebrate this
important milestone, which could not have been achieved without the dedication and loyalty of our scientific and law enforcement officers. Of these 123 hits,
60 percent have been provided to task/strike forces fighting gang related and
organized crime.
and a Weapons Disposal Unit. NSW
Police has the largest IBIS system in
Asia Pacific, with four Data Acquisitions
Stations (DAS) and one Signature
Analysis Station (SAS).
Since the acquisition of IBIS technology,
we have worked diligently to put in the
right structure in our Ballistic Section
and to continuously improve this structure, as we provide service to more than
500 police stations and task/strike forces
across NSW.
"Well established procedures within a
laboratory are a key factor in order to
streamline the workflow. To enable us
to achieve this, our Ballistics Section
has identified key areas such as
'Exhibit Reception,' 'Short and Long
Term Storage,' and 'Examinations
Areas' with well-documented SOPs."
(Gert Oosthuizen, IBIS Coordinator.)
When IBIS became operational, work
was done to ensure that the unsolved
cases dating back to the 1970s and the
test fires of every firearm submitted to
the laboratory from the early 1990s
were entered into the database. Due
to these efforts, our Ballistic Section has
solved crimes that may have otherwise
remained unresolved. Also, we knew
that for IBIS to be a successful tool,
awareness of the system benefits needed to be created amongst detectives and
investigators. This was accomplished by
using communication vehicles, such as
www.forensictechnologyinc.com
interdepartmental memos, presentations at the Police Academy, and by
spreading the word about IBIS.
A pivotal moment for our Ballistic
Section occurred in the fall of 2001
when we hired our IBIS coordinator,
Gert Oosthuizen, who was formerly
with the Pretoria Ballistic Unit in South
Africa. Gert's first mandate was to evaluate our process, and he successfully
implemented an improved formalized
process with sustainable standard operating procedures. Using past experience
in the field, Gert introduced standard
procedures for ballistics examiners to
complete prior to submitting evidence
or tests to be acquired onto IBIS. An
examiner will finalize his examination
of a specific job and then select the best
fired cartridge case or bullet (specimen)
for acquisition onto IBIS. By following
set procedures to maximize the chain
of evidence and maintain the integrity
Matthew Farago, ballistics support officer, NSW Police
Forensic Technology News – Winter 2005
thereof, exhibit and test-fired cartridge
cases and bullets are submitted to IBIS,
received, registered, acquired, and
stored securely in numerical order
for future reference.
The reality of having IBIS technology
and the right process in place to support
the system dramatically increased the
efficiency of the Ballistic Unit. These
two realities also enabled our scientific
officers and police experts to return to
the core aspects of their science, and
to focus on solving firearm-related
crime.
Before we had IBIS, microscopic
examinations relating to multiple
crime scenes could only be performed
if detectives supplied us with information that there might be a link. Even
then, it could take up to several weeks
to supply them with results. IBIS correlations take only minutes to complete
the same task and can also supply information to several "unknown" related
crime scenes.
ONGOING DISTINCTIVE PROJECTS
Since the late 1990s, handguns have
become the weapon of choice in NSW
and, as a counter move, our disposal
unit has taken a hands-on approach by
reviewing all test fires from handguns
on an ongoing basis for positive correlations before destroying them. As
a result of these efforts, one cold hit
already has been realized.
Other projects currently being undertaken are assisting our government in
capturing images of the test fires from
the Glick .40 pistols used by police
officers and private security guards'
handguns. Specifically, NSW private
www.forensictechnologyinc.com
security guards have been the target
of crime groups for the pot of gold
their work requires them to carry
and for their weapons. With Forensic
Technology's help, we have created two
separate database segments for running
correlations to maximize the efficiency
of these projects.
BRASSTRAX TESTED WITH POSITIVE
RESULTS
In February of this year, we also
received BRASSTRAXTM to test for a
period of three months. BRASSTRAX
is Forensic Technology's latest innovation, which is designed to collect digital
images of cartridge-case evidence from a
remote location and place these images
into the database of a centralized IBIS
system for correlation.
Our goal was to evaluate BRASSTRAX
and verify that it can be used as part
of a possible creation of a nationwide
firearms-identification network. Our
division was extremely satisfied with
the test results and the Australian
Federal Police (AFP) and other law
enforcement agencies in Australia
have already expressed interest in the
use of this technology.
A philosophy shared in our Ballistic Unit
is that we have been given the privilege
of being front-line soldiers in the global
fight against firearm-related crime. Our
doors are therefore open to visitors from
other Ballistic Sections in our region and
from around the world. We would like
to share processes and discuss how we
can collectively work in erasing firearm
related crime from our communities.
Note from Isadora Vuk, Forensic Technology:
Forensic Technology is proud to support
the ballistics initiatives underway in the
New South Wales Police Department
and all of Australia, and look forward to
seeing our technology help in the battle
against violent crime. We applaud the
vision of the New South Wales Police
and are pleased to continue our strong
international relationship.
Isadora Vuk is a marketing intelligence
analyst with Forensic Technology. Vuk has
worked closely with Wayne Hoffman and
the NSW Police in the preparation of this
story for Forensic Technology News.
OUR KEY MILESTONES
Thirty-two dedicated scientific, sworn
and unsworn officers have been
responsible for our IBIS achievements.
■
Largest firearm database in
Australia
■
123 cold hits
■
These hits have linked over 250
crimes and crime scenes
■
7,700 positive microscopic identifications
■
8,443 cases are currently on the
system
■
11,551 cartridge cases are currently on the system
■
5,077 bullets are currently on the
system
Forensic Technology News – Winter 2005
9
FORENSIC
TECHNOLOGY
I N T E R N AT I O N A L S C E N E
South Africa Raises Ballistics Testing Capacity
by Irma Ventor, Contributing Editor of Engineering News
Article reprinted courtesy of Engineering News, August 2004 Issue
he South African Police Service (SAPS) last year
upgraded the Integrated Ballistics Identification
System (IBISTM) at the Pretoria Forensic Science
Laboratory, nearly doubling its capacity.
T
The Canadian-developed system, an international standard,
links bullets as well as cartridges between various crime
scenes, thereby determining whether the same weapon
was used at various crime scenes.
Ballistics specialist senior superintendent, Niel van Niekerk,
says Pretoria, currently reporting over 1,300 hits, is the world
leader with respect to IBIS hits.
Meaning: by using the electronic database, each year 3,000
cases are linked by virtue of the bullets or cartridges found
at crime scenes.
The Pretoria laboratory covers Gauteng, Limpopo, part of
the Northern Cape, the Free State, the North West, and
Mpumalanga. Cases in these areas seeking a match at IBIS
Pretoria run to between 30,000 and 40,000 a year.
"The system has the highest workload of all IBIS systems in
the world; not even high-crime areas such as New York or
Chicago are proving to be competition," says regional coordinator for Pretoria, inspector Willie Odendaal.
Before the arrival of [IBIS] in 1997, bullets and cartridges
were matched manually, something which Odendaal, with
eleven years of experience in ballistics, says endured too
many work hours.
Coping with an immense workload has turned Pretoria into
a model installation internationally for Forensic Technology,
its developer.
Odendaal, in fact, earlier this year received an award from
the company as the operator in the world who has made
'SOMETHING IS TAKEN, SOMETHING IS LEFT'
the best contribution to IBIS. This is measured in terms of
characteristics such as number of hits, as well as suggestions
to improve the system.
One example of a case solved with the aid of IBIS is evidence
found at a cash-in-transit robbery in the North West that
was linked to a weapon used in several previous heists in
the same area.
Pretoria’s IBIS is one of four systems that were installed
in 1997, the others being Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and
Kwazulu-Natal. All the systems are interlinked, and evidence
is therefore able to be traced nationally.
Pretoria has a staff of seven people. Overall, the ballistics team
at the Pretoria laboratory experiences a 20 percent increase
in workload every year, estimates Van Niekerk. The Pretoria
laboratory as a whole boasts six units, and a staff of about
20 people. Several have university training, but most of the
SAPS forensic science is taught in-house, notes SAPS forensic
science laboratory liaison officer inspector Francois Bekker, as
experience plays a pivotal role.
Apart from ballistics, Pretoria's Forensic Science Laboratory
houses the questioned-document unit (functions include
identification of forgeries and investigating signatures and
handwriting); the scientific analysis
unit, incorporating electronics
[Pretoria] has (investigating fibre origins and conthe highest ducting voice analysis, for example);
workload the biology unit (attending to DNA
analysis, for example); the chemistry
of all IBIS unit (investigating arson, and finding
systems in traces of controlled substances such
the world... as drugs, among other tasks); and
lastly the explosives unit.
Courtesy of Engineering News
Frenchman Dr. Edmund Locard, thought of as the father of forensic science, established the world's first crime scene laboratory
in Paris in 1910. He coined the phrase "something is taken, something is left," referring to what happens during the course
of the forensic event between the witnesses, the scene and the evidence.
In other words, Locard's exchange principle means that when any person comes in contact with an object or another person,
a cross-transfer of physical evidence occurs, and through this, it is possible to associate criminals with particular places, items
of evidence and crimes.
10
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Forensic Technology News – Winter 2005
I N T E R N AT I O N A L S C E N E
Bekker says the aim of forensic scientists is to derive from a
mute entity, such as a bullet or DNA, what happened at a
crime scene.
PRETORIA
PRETORIA
S O U T H
A F R I C A
"Our task is not to investigate crime. That task belongs to
the investigating officer. We must look at matters objectively.
In this sense we have proved many people's guilt, as well as
innocence."
Bekker says the SAPS forensics division is world-class.
DURBAN
CAPE TOWN
PORT ELIZABETH
"Each country's circumstances differ. What is bad for you
is in some sense also good for you. Pretoria houses many
experts in their fields. It is possible to gain experience here
in one year that cannot be gained in ten years in any other
country,"
IBIS Installation Sites in South Africa.
THE INNER WORKINGS OF IBIS Courtesy of Engineering News
The Integrated Ballistics Identification System (IBIS) has [about
300] installations in the U.S., South America, Europe, and
Australia.
After a possible link has been identified by IBIS, the physical
exhibits (bullets or cartridges) are withdrawn from the docket
or the exhibit safe for microscopic investigation.
IBIS, which consists of a data-acquisition station (DAS) and
a signature-analysis station (SAS), is an extremely high-tech
tool used by firearms examiners and forensic ballistic specialists
to determine whether the firearm in question has been used
in more than one crime.
This, Odendaal says, has to be done, since computer evidence
alone is not yet accepted in South Africa's criminal courts. If
a positive identification has been made, the forensic ballistics
specialist compiles a statement, informing the investigating
officers involved in the criminal cases that the same firearm
was used in separate incidents. It is then up to the investigating officers of those cases to gather further forensic evidence
to link the crimes. Identification through IBIS is made possible
due to the fact that each cartridge case and bullet is unique.
Exhibits (bullets and cartridge cases) from all types of crime
scenes where a firearm was used, such as murders, armed
robberies, and suicides, are digitally transferred and stored
into the system database, where mathematical algorithms
are written for the images.
Through the use of sophisticated software, IBIS performs
automatic computer-base comparisons of the images, ranking them according to the likelihood of a match.
"The system, which has an accuracy rate in the region of 98
percent, can compare one cartridge case with a group of up
to or more than 30,000 other cartridge cases overnight,
something that is humanly impossible to do," Odendaal
explains.
www.forensictechnologyinc.com
"Ballistic science uses the class characteristic and individual cartridge case. "Class characteristics are those characteristics
that can distinguish the type of firearm used, while individual
characteristics are marks unique to a specific firearm," he
explains. "All firearms have grooves on the inside of the barrel that produce corresponding groove marks on the bullet
when the weapon is fired."
Forensic Technology News – Winter 2005
11
FORENSIC
TECHNOLOGY
I N T E R N AT I O N A L S C E N E
Illegal Trafficking of Small Arms –
A Worldwide Concern by Joanne McLaughlin
any of the most acute small arms problems of
2003 arose from the seemingly simple issue of
stockpile management and control. In the most
extraordinary case, the loss of control of millions of small
arms and light weapons helped undermine the stability of
an entire country. In other cases, smaller leakages have been
a direct contributor to crime and ethnic violence.
M
Losing
small arms
to criminals
or rebels is
a recurring
problem for
many state
authorities.
A case in point is Iraq. In the wake of
the ousting of Saddam Hussein, the
Iraqi people found themselves in possession of at least seven to eight million
small arms, previously kept by security forces. Iraqi's demand for firearms
quickly rose to meet and exceed supply, and soon imported small arms
were also flowing into Iraq.
Stockpile security should, therefore,
be of much greater concern to all
weapon owners. As governments
maintain the largest weapons arsenals, they also face some of
the greatest challenges in controlling their movement. Losing
small arms to criminals or rebels is a recurring problem for
many state authorities. Poor storage practices often facilitate
pilfering and unexplained losses. Police guns can make their
way into criminal hands through trade-ins of old police
firearms brokered by manufacturers.
At least one million civilian firearms
At least one are stolen or lost annually worldwide.
million civil- Stolen firearms are widely acknowledge to be among the most likely to
ian firearms be used in violent crime. By focusing
are stolen exclusively on theft by street criminals,
or lost current practices in many countries
fail to deal with other, equally imporannually
tant, aspects of stockpile traceability.
worldwide. Most countries do not penalize gun
owners for losing their weapons –
indicating that more needs to be done to discourage not
just their theft but also their loss.
Europe is an ever-expanding collection of nations with
diverse experiences of, and reactions to, small arms violence.
12
www.forensictechnologyinc.com
It is home to many of the world's top small arms producers,
accounting for almost $3 billion in sales in 2000, not including those operating in the Russian Federation. Manufacturing
and possession of firearms is also under scrutiny in all
European Union (EU) member states, especially in some of
the new ascension countries, where civil conflict has formed
part of their recent history. Illegal trafficking of firearms across
borders and the transfer of unmarked firearms is one important source of illegal firearms. The diversity of legislation from
country to country must be taken into account, e.g., registration of new guns was only made compulsory in Germany in
1972 and in France in 1995.
However, recent years have seen a growing cohesiveness of
policy development at the EU level, including steps toward
increased regulation of firearms within European nations and
tightened guidelines for the export of firearms outside the
Union. Late last year saw adoption of an EU Council resolution to help enforce customs cooperation and the clampdown
on illegal firearms trafficking.
David McDonnell, Forensic Technology's regional sales
director for the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and
Africa), commented, "Improving the traceability of firearms is
seen as a key objective in the context of setting up an efficient preventive system against firearms trafficking. We
stand ready to support Europe's law enforcement community with an arsenal of effective solutions and services."
The implication of such Europe-wide initiatives will require
the use of integrated IT solutions across borders. Forensic
Technology's FIMS (Firearms Information Management
Solution) offers software applications that provide professional solutions related to firearms, ammunition and explosive devices. FIMS enables efficient licensing, record keeping
and identification to track firearm imports and exports, as
well as firearm stockpile inventories and dispositions. FIMS
can help in reducing the worldwide proliferation of illicit
firearms, while facilitating open information-sharing and
enhanced criminal investigation through technology.
Forensic Technology looks forward to supporting any EU
initiatives in this area and to contributing in the fight
against transnational crime.
Sources:
*Small Arms Survey, Geneva, Switzerland. *European Commission, Justice &
Home Affairs, Brussels, Belgium.
Forensic Technology News – Winter 2005
FO
R
C.
N
TECHNOLOG
Y
SIC
I
EN
FT SENTINEL
NEWS STORY
Hearing the Voice
of the Customer
by Patty Xenos
NO DISTRACTIONS
NO EXCUSES
he value of our customers' opinions and critiques
are priceless. They encourage us to continuously aim
higher in our customer service, research and solutions. In an effort to ensure that each of our customers'
views are always heard, Forensic Technology had developed
a policy statement entitled FT Sentinel. Four years later, we
hope we have demonstrated that we are "someone who
keeps watch without distraction," as a sentinel would. We
strive to accomplish our primary goal of listening to the customer and responding with the necessary updates and
changes as so desired.
T
Our commitment to you
is that we
continuously
improve our
level of customer service
so that it is
the absolute
best in the
industry.
Forensic Technology has always been
steadfast in its commitment to provide
superior service alongside innovative
crime-solving technology. We guarantee the use of strict internationally
accepted standards in which we manufacture and develop our products. If a
problem arises after delivery, we will
do our best to respond promptly and to
find a solution. The changing needs of
law enforcement keep us seeking new
solutions and we promise to continually be developing in conjunction with
these needs. As the sentinel is motivated by loyalty, your loyalty motivates us.
We have since re-examined the FT Sentinel and have
increased our standards in customer service. Client results
are a component that will aid us in restructuring our focus
enabling us to reach where we intend our business to be
in the next three years.
will not be able to contact them regarding the management
of their particular issue(s). The tentative launch date for this
portal is December 2004. A notification will be sent out to
our clients once this portal is functional.
Forensic Technology has also created a client feedback card
appropriately dubbed, the Sentinel Card. Forensic Technology
representatives will issue Sentinel Cards to clients upon visiting
their facilities.
Clients may also send an email to [email protected]
at any time to offer feedback.
Lastly, we kindly request that our clients take a few minutes
to complete the Customer Satisfaction Questionnaire that was
sent out in October. For those clients who wish to complete
the questionnaire online instead, the form is available at the
following URL:
http://websurveyor.net/wsb.dll/18655/FTICSS-ALL.htm.
RESULTS THAT WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE:
■
We will create the highest levels of customer satisfaction with our solutions.
In order to achieve these results, Forensic Technology has
decided to improve and increase the communication methods
available for client feedback.
■
Our customers will achieve substantive and sustainable
benefits through the transfer and facilitation of knowledge sharing.
Currently, we are in the process of launching a new web
portal at www.ftsentinel.com where clients are invited to
provide positive or negative feedback online. Customers may
provide as much or as little information as desired, however,
if clients wish to remain anonymous, Forensic Technology
■
We will become collaborative partners with our clients,
delivering solutions that result in a safer society
■
We will provide fair value to meet the unique needs of
different economic circumstances.
www.forensictechnologyinc.com
Forensic Technology News – Winter 2005
7
POINTS ON PRODUCT
Martin Roy
We are accelerating the deployment of our product modules at customer premises in the U.S., especially on the West Coast.
Furthermore, we have seen a growing interest from international agencies, so much so, that we plan to deploy b.a.r.d. in some
sites outside North America in 2005.
As usual, our R&D team is continually researching new ways to improve our b.a.r.d. platform, in order for Forensic Technology to be
able to offer a complete suite of information management solutions dedicated to forensic labs and property rooms, worldwide.
Alexis Vasquez
CRIME DETECTION SOLUTION
We are proud to present our new solution aimed at crime analysts and detectives. Cortex is a software tool that easily extracts
critical data from large quantities of information obtained from various sources to assist in analytical and investigative case work.
It is designed to fill the gaps between an agency's existing products and databases in order to provide centralized access to
information. Cortex integrates data and offers assisted exploration tools, reducing complexity for detectives and crime analysts. The
software integrates the expert knowledge of experienced analysts and detectives, thereby increasing user efficiency. Enquire
about Cortex; it will be available early in 2005.
BRASS R
BULLET
Stéphane Marcotte
It was with great pride that Forensic Technology presented BRASSTRAX and the most recent prototype version of BULLETTRAX-3D
at the last ENFSI meeting, recently held in Madrid. Most participants were particularly impressed by the ease-of-use of these two
products and the quality of their images.
As a result, as the product manager for BRASSTRAX and BULLETTRAX- 3D, I wish to personally thank and congratulate the development teams led by Sophie-Lisa Courchesne, Paul Mainville and Karl Vincent, who, with their diligent effort and made a direct
contribution to the success of this meeting.
Martin Roy
Our new version, Gunsights PRO 3.0, has received great reviews by the law enforcement community, and we are confident
that an increasing number of police departments and forensic laboratories will adopt it in the next few months. With over 2700
firearms catalogued, this encyclopedia allows users to manipulate images while detailing 27 characteristics of any given firearm.
We are also proud of our continuing relationship with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), regarding the distribution of
their Firearms Reference Table (FRT) software to agencies outside of North America.
forensic training
Solutions
Joanna Quart
Having joined Forensic Technology's marketing department in August as the Services product manager, I have quickly discovered that marketing services is very different than marketing products. In marketing a manufactured good, marketers develop
new products and improve upon existing products through feature enhancements. The features of the product are very tangible
and in turn define the value proposition of the product. In the case of services, the product is performance, something very intangible; therefore the association of value is less obvious. We can all agree, however, that there exists intrinsic value in quality and
that is why quality performance in the delivery of a service plays such a crucial role in successfully marketing services. Forensic
Technology is now a provider of tailored solutions; therefore this philosophy is not only consistent with our business model, it is,
in a sense, its foundation.
As a service marketer, my role is to apply a disciplined approach in establishing strategies to market Forensic Technology's current
and future service offerings to our clients and to our employees.
This means understanding the market to define and develop delivery channels, logistics, and options for customers that empower
the performers of the service to excel in providing high-quality service (and therefore value) to our customers on a consistent basis.
Reliability is key and requires teamwork across all departments. The result: very satisfied customers and very fulfilled employees.
www.forensictechnologyinc.com
Forensic Technology News – Winter 2005
13
500 The Hellenic Police 500 South African Police Service 1300
Allegheny County Coroner’s Office 800 New York City Police Department 1300 Israeli
National Police 800 New Orleans Police Department 400 Houston Police Department 400
Chicago Police Department
HIT US UP!
Boston Police Department 400 Laboratoire de Police Scientifique et Technique Alger 300
Philadelphia Police Department 300 Essex County Sheriff ’s Office 200 Istanbul Kriminal Polis
Laboratuvari Balistik Sube Mudurlugu
200 North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
200 Santa Ana Police Department 100 Columbus Police Department 100 Washington State
Police-Tacoma Crime Laboratory 100 Bundeskriminalamt 100 Stockton Police Department 100
Georgia Bureau of Investigation
100 Turkey National Police, Ankara 1000 Ministry of
the Interior - Moscow, Russia 100 Contra Costa County Sheriff ’s Office 100 Omaha Police
Department 100 Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia
100 SKL- Swedish National
Laboratory of Forensic Science 50 Danish National Police - The Forensic and Serious Crime
50 Dirrecion General de la Policia 50 Taiwan Criminal Investigation Bureau 50
Chicago Police Department 500 The Hellenic Police 500 South African Police Service 1300
Allegheny
H I TCounty
U S Coroner’s
U P ! Office 600 New York City Police Department 1300 Israeli
Department
This is a friendly reminder from your associates at Forensic Technology to report your milestone IBIS HITS* to Patty Xenos via
email or fax at [email protected] or 514-485-9336. You may also cut out the form below and mail it to our Montreal office (if
mailing your agency logo, please enclose a CD containing the artwork files with this form):
Attn: Patty Xenos, 5757 Cavendish Blvd., Suite 200, Cote St-Luc, Quebec, H4W 2W8, CANADA
*A HIT is defined as a match between two exhibits using IBIS. When you report a HIT (1st, 25th, 50th, 100th, etc...) we award you with a certificate or plaque. We will also post the HIT on our website.
If you choose to email or fax your reply, please include the following information as well:
HIT Number
HIT Date
An electronic version of your department’s logo (180 dpi minimum)
Follow-up contact name
Agency information
Additional information (optional)
FORENSIC
TECHNOLOGY
Logo is enclosed
Logo is emailed
FORENSIC
TECHNOLOGY
E V E N T S
Technology Preview Opens to Warm Reception
by Nicola Gurwith
On September 28th and 29th, in the
Walsh-Reckord Hall of States in
Washington, DC, Forensic Technology
held its first Partners in Crime Solving
Technology Preview and Reception. The preview on September 28th was an opportunity for guests, namely members of the
media, to preview Forensic Technology's
product line. Highlighting the event, was
Forensic Technology's latest achievement,
BULLETTRAXTM-3D, a workstation for
collecting 3D images of spent bullet evidence for comparison.
In an article written by one of the
press attendees, Jason Tuohey, for PCWorld.com, Martin Ols, a firearms
and toolmark examiner at the Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives (ATF), attested, "[The 3D
technology] does have a great deal of
possibility."
In addition, Forensic Technology's staff
was on hand to provide product demonstrations for other products designed to
aid public safety in the areas of actionable
intelligence and evidence and forensic
laboratory management.
FALL EVENTS ATTENDED...
IPC 2004
Adelaide, Australia
PEAF Florida
Deerfield Beach, Florida
ASCLD
San Diego, California
ENFSI Strategic Planning Meeting
Madrid, Spain
GARDA
Dublin, Ireland
www.forensictechnologyinc.com
Our reception on September 29th was
an opportunity to honor Chairman
Bill Young of the United States House
of Representatives Appropriations
Committee. Support from dedicated
policy makers like Chairman Young has
been essential to the success of Forensic
Technology's integrated crime-solving
solutions. Robert Walsh, president of
Forensic Technology, honored Chairman
Young for his longstanding support of
law enforcement initiatives.
The evening began with a thoughtful
address from Walsh. Soon, the one-hundred plus group of attendees were participating in product demonstrations offered
by Forensic Technology staff and mingling
with other law enforcement and government officials. An assortment of special
hors d'oeuvres and wine were served to
the enthusiastic crowd throughout the
evening by the elegant Washington
catering service, RSVP.
Guests included Ambassadors and
embassy staff, Congressional staff, friends
of Forensic Technology and staff from a
variety of American agencies including,
the Department of Justice, the
Department of Homeland Security, the
Department of State and the Department
of Defense.
Being dubbed a success for all involved,
Forensic Technology's Partners in Crime
Solving Technology Preview and Reception will
become an annual event in Washington,
DC and Forensic Technology's Jim
Lightfoot, vice president of government
affairs, had this to say:
"The event yielded very positive results
for both the attendees and our staff. We
are proud of our technology solutions and
are glad to be working with the esteemed
men and women of law enforcement in
the creation and use of tools to help combat violent crime. Furthermore, I would
like to extend my gratitude to all that
attended for taking time out of their
demanding schedules to meet with us.”
Vietnam Ambassador Nguyen Tam Chien expresses his
thoughts to former US Senator Dennis DeConcini.
Brook Gaster, director of business development for the
Americas, gives Marika Selga, first secretary from the Embassy
of Latvia, a demonstration of GunsightsTM.
Forensic Technology News – Winter 2005
15
www.forensictechnologyinc.com
Helping you get from Point A to Point B
As a global leader in providing cost-effective solutions to the public safety community for the past 12 years, Forensic Technology is
the number one choice for ballistics identification equipment for
public safety agencies around the world.
While we pride ourselves on pushing the envelope of ballistics
identification, we are committed to providing innovative products
and services to aid public safety on all fronts.
From unique crime-detection software to property, evidence, and
forensic laboratory management solutions, Forensic Technology is
using the power of computers and automation to help bring violent
criminals to justice faster. Call 1-888-984-4247 to learn more.
FORENSIC
TECHNOLOGY
Solutions for a Safer Society.
Forensic Technology is an
ISO 9001/2000 Certified Company.